WELLESLY – The Williams College women’s volleyball team (3-0) won both matches Saturday to give head coach Fran Vandermeer a career milestone. The Ephs recorded 3-1 victories over Wesleyan and Wellesley on the day - Vandermeer’s 200th and 201st victories at Williams.
“Today we got quality wins over quality teams,†said Vandermeer. “We’re just so excited to get on the van and come home after such a great start to the season.â€
Although not an official conference game, Williams got an early look at Little 3 rival Wesleyan. In the milestone victory, Vandermeer’s Ephs downed the Cardinals, 30-28, 30-23, 28-30, 30-23. The setting combo of sophomore Melissa Pun and first year Emily Avis were superb at running the offense. Pun recorded 29 assists, 17 digs, and 11 kills, while Avis added 21 assists, 8 digs and 2 service aces. Junior captain Riki McDermott tallied 5 kills, 10 digs, and 2 blocks as well.
“Our serve receive was much improved, which allowed us to settle down on offense,†said Vandermeer.
Sophomores Chelsea Kubal, Whitney Hitchcock, and Andrea Scioscia posted impressive numbers in the first match. Kubal had another huge game on both offense and defense, recording 13 kills and 18 digs. Hitchcock continued her success at the net with 4 blocks, while Scioscia tallied 18 digs.
Making only their second career appearances, first-years Nicole Ballon-Landa and Kate Anderson continued to impress. Anderson smashed a team high 14 kills, while Ballon-Landa added 8 kills of her own.
In the second match, the Ephs found themselves in an unfamiliar place, dropping the first game, 31-29. Down 1-0, the Ephs went on to win the next two games convincingly 30-24, 30-23, setting up an exciting finish. Down 2-1, Wellesley jumped out to 16-7 and 28-22 leads in the fourth game. However, the young Eph squad battled back to tie the score at 30 and eventually clinch the match, 34-32.
“This was one heck of a comeback win,†said Vandermeer. “I am very proud of this young team to get a comeback over a quality opponent. This helps to builds a lot of confidence for this team.â€
The story of the match was the excellent blocking ability of the Ephs. Anderson led the team with 7 blocks to go along with 8 kills, while sophomore Alisha Cahlan (3 blocks, 8 kills), McDermott (2 blocks, 6 digs), Hitchcock (2 blocks, 4 kills), and Ballon-Landa (2 blocks, 8 kills, 4 service Aces) all posted multiple blocks.
“The blocking in this match was the best we’ve seen in a long time,†said Vandermeer.
Kubal continued her excellent all around play with 12 kills and 20 digs, while Scioscia added another 18 digs to her totals. The setter tandem of Pun and Avis paced the offense exceptionally well again recording 21 assists a piece. First year Eleanor Levine also had a successful match tallying 3 kills and a block.
After an impressive opening weekend, the Ephs now prepare for their NESCAC conference opener Tuesday, September 11 at Hamilton (7 PM). After recording her 200th win, Vandermeer is now just 18 wins shy of passing Pat Manning as the all-time leader in wins.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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